Workbook 1.1 Person Centred Practice Across Cultures Empathy

Workbook1.1PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

Empathy–apracticetoconnectacrossculturesJuly2016

futures UPFRONT

ThisworkbookhasbeendevelopedforNationalDisabilityServicesby:BarbelWinter,ManagingDirector,futuresUpfrontandMariaKatrivesis,ConsultantandTrainerFirstpublished(July2016)©futuresUpfrontFormoreinformationandforpermissiontoreproducepleasecontact:futuresUpfrontemail:[email protected]:www.futuresupfront.com.au ProducedbyNDSNSWLevel18,1CastlereaghStSydney,NSW2000FundedbyNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices.©ThispublicationiscopyrightAllrightsreserved.ExceptasprovidedintheCopyrightAct1968(Commonwealth),nouseofthiswork,whichiswithintheexclusiverightofthecopyrightowners,maybemade.ContactNDS0292563100ndsnsw@nds.org.auwww.nds.org.auAboutNationalDisabilityServicesNationalDisabilityServicesisthepeakbodyfornon-governmentdisabilityservices.Itspurposeistopromotequalityserviceprovisionandlifeopportunitiesforpeoplewithdisability.NDS’sAustralia-widemembershipincludesmorethan1000non-governmentorganisations,whichsupportpeoplewithallformsofdisability.NDSprovidesinformationandnetworkingopportunitiestoitsmembersandpolicyadvicetostate,territoryandfederalgovernments.

Table of Contents

1. Preface 21.1 Howtousethisworkbook? 21.2 Whatisthisworkbookabout? 31.3 Outcomes 31.4 Whoisthisworkbookfor? 31.5 Howlongwillittaketocomplete? 3

2. The Workbook 42.1 Introduction 42.2 Whatisempathy? 4

2.2.1 Adefinition 42.2.2 From‘introspection’to‘outrospection’ 52.2.3 Canempathybelearned? 5

2.3 Thefourskillsofempathy 62.4 Wanttobecomemoreempathic? 82.5 Arewebiasedinourempathy? 92.6 Empathyforsocialchangeandtodevelopanambitiousimagination? 10

3. Conclusion 12

4. Attachment 1 13

Workbook1.1:Empathy-apracticetoconnectacrosscultures

©futuresUpfront|2016|PersonCentredPracticeAcrossCultures

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1. Preface

ThisworkbookispartofaseriesofresourcesforthedisabilityservicessectordesignedbyfuturesUpfrontforNDSwithfundingprovidedbytheNSWDepartmentofFamilyandCommunityServices;Ageing,DisabilityandHomeCare.

1.IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability

1.1Empathy–apracticetoconnectacrosscultures

1.2Activelistening–unconditionalpositiveregardacrosscultures

1.3Choicemaking–cross-culturaldifferencesandwhatcanwelearnfromthem

1.4ReflectivePractice–whydifferentpointsofviewmatter

1.5Workingeffectivelywithinterpreters

2.OrganisationalPractices–buildingaculturallyresponsiveorganisation

2.1Terminologyanddata–aguidetounderstandingculturaldiversityanddisability

2.2Makingthebusinesscase–whydiversityisgoodforbusiness

2.3Aculturallyresponsivepersoncentredorganisation–keyelements

2.4Leadingtowardsculturalresponsiveness–apracticalguideformanagers,teamleadersandcoaches

2.5Buildingadiverseworkforce–practicalstrategies

2.6Valuingbilingualworkers–strategiestorecruit,trainandretain

3.CommunityEngagement–workingalongsidediversecommunities

3.11Community@atime–culturallyresponsivecommunityengagementprinciplesandelements

3.2MakingLinks–networkingwithCALDCommunities

3.3Cross-culturalstory-basedmarketing–1story@atime

Thisworkbookispartof“IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”series.

1.1 How to use this workbook? Thisworkbookcanbeusedinmanydifferentways,including:

´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogrambyanindividual

´ Asaself-pacedlearningprogramforagroup



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´ Aspartofformaltrainingorganisedbyanorganisation

´ Aspartofcoachingandmentoring.

Thisworkbookincludesexercisesandopportunitiesforreflections(whenworkingbyyourself)ordiscussions(whenworkingwithothers).

Thereisplentyofroominyourworkbooktotakenotesandmakecomments.

1.2 What is this workbook about? Thisworkbookisdesignedtohelpyouunderstandtheimportanceofempathyasaneffectiveculturallyresponsivepracticeinworkingwithpeoplewhoaredifferentfromyourself.

Werecommendyoualsousetheotherworkbooksinthe““IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”series.

1.3 Outcomes Attheendoftheworkbookyouwill:

´ Beabletothinkmoredeeplyaboutempathyanditspotentialinculturallyresponsivepersoncentredpractice

´ Identifytheskillsofempathy

´ Practicehabitsofempathy

´ Understandempathyaspracticetoconnectacrosscultures

1.4 Who is this workbook for? ´ Peopleinterestedinimprovingtheirculturallyresponsiveperson

centredpractice

´ Peoplewhowanttostrengthentheirempathy

´ Peoplewhowanttoknowmoreaboutempathyasapractice

1.5 How long will it take to complete? Thisworkbookshouldtakeabout60minutestoworkthroughandwatchsomeofthevideos.Completingalltheexercisesandreflectionswillprobablyaddafurther30-60minutes.



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2. The Workbook

2.1 Introduction Empathyhasrecentlybecomeamuchtalkedaboutskill.Weseeempathyonthecurriculumforpre-schoolersinFinlandandtheEmpathyMuseumistravelingtheworld.Sowhatisempathy?Whyhasitbecomesopopularandcanitbeemployedeffectivelytoconnectwithpeoplefromculturallyandlinguisticallydiverse(CALD)backgroundswithdisability?

Reflections

Trytothinkbacktothelasttimesomeonewasempathicwithyou.Whatdidtheydo?Howdidyoufeel?

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2.2 What is empathy? Withempathybeingsopopularitmightbeagoodstartingpointtocometoasharedagreementonwhatitis,whyitissopopularandwhetheritcanbelearned.

2.2.1 Adefinition

Itisalwaysgoodtostartanyideaaboutaconceptwithadefinition,sohereisone:

“Empathyistheactionofunderstanding,beingawareof,beingsensitiveto,andvicariouslyexperiencingthefeelings,thoughts,andexperienceofanotherofeitherthepastorpresentwithouthaving



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thefeelings,thoughts,andexperiencefullycommunicatedinanobjectivelyexplicitmanner;also:thecapacityforthis”1

2.2.2 From‘introspection’to‘outrospection’

RomanKrznaric,theauthorof‘Empathy’,arguesthatempathy

“..hasthepowertotransformrelationships,fromthepersonaltothepolitical,andcreatefundamentalsocialchange.”2

Hesaysthatempathyiscriticalaswearemovingfromaneraof‘introspection’toatimeof‘outrospection’.Thinklastcentury;thinktheemergenceofpsychologyandpsychotherapy;thinkthe‘it’sallaboutme’generationandthedesiretolearnaboutourselvesbyturninginwards.ThatKrznaricsayswasthecenturyof‘introspection’.Now,withthenewcentury,hesays,weareenteringaneraof‘outrospection’;wherewelearnbyturningtootherstounderstandandmakesenseofourselvesandtheworldaroundus.

2.2.3 Canempathybelearned?

Untilrecently,empathywasthoughtofasapersonalitytrait;somehaveitsomedon’t.Butwiththeemergenceofneuroscienceanduslearningmoreandmoreaboutourbrains,itisbecomingclearerthatwhileempathyisa‘naturalphenomenaoccurringautomatically’inthebrain,‘nature’canalsobehelpedalongandbestrengthened.

Sotheanswertothequestion,‘Canempathybelearned?’isaclear‘yes’,andenvironmentsthatareempathicarecertainlygoodfordevelopingyourempathicabilities.

Video

Interestedhowwecanteachempathy?Havealookatthisvideoonhow(andwhy)toteachkidsempathytochangetheworld,childbychild:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=185&v=oP-XqiCI4SU

1http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empathy2RomanKrznFinalaric(2014):Empathy



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ForalongtimepeoplewithAutismandpeopleonthespectrumwerethoughttobeincapableofempathy.Nowitseemsscienceismoremovingtowardssuggestingthatthat’snotquitetrue.3

Reflections

Doyourthinkyournaturallyoccurringempathicrespondsisgreaterwhenyourempathyisdirectedatsomeonewhois‘similar’toyou?

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We’llcomebacktothisonelater.Butirrespectiveofthetwopointsofdiscussionabove,itisclearthatempathycanbelearned.Lateronwewilllookatwhathabitsyoucouldcultivatetostrengthenyourempathy‘muscle’.

2.3 The four skills of empathy BrenéBrownisanacademicandsocialworkerwhohasbeenthinkingandwritingaboutthepowerofvulnerability.Aspartofherworkinthisareashehasalsobeenthinkingaboutempathy.

Video

HereisavideobasedonworkdonebyBrenéBrownonempathy.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

3Increasinglydiscussionsonthisissuearenowfocusedonthedifficultforthemtosecond-guessothers'motivations,intentions,orhiddenagendas.Asaresult,peopleonthespectrumoftenmisunderstandotherpeople'smotivationsordesires.https://www.verywell.com/can-children-with-autism-mind-read-259891



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Thefourskillsofempathyidentifiedare:

´ Perspectivetaking

´ Stayingoutofjudgement

´ RecognisingEmotionsinotherpeople

´ Talkingabout/acknowledgingthoseemotions.

Reflections

Gobacktoyouranswersin2.1above,thinkingbacktothelasttimesomeonewasempathicwithyou.Canyourecogniseperspectivetaking?Canyourecognisethelackofjudgement?Canyouseehowtheyconnectedwithyouandhowtheyacknowledgedyouremotions?

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Workbook Exercise

Belowispartofacasestudyweintroducedinanotherworkbook.Canyouhavearead,andidentifythewordsandactionsthatassistempathyandthosethatdonot?

Case study4

Diana is a young woman from Chinese background with physical disability. She was born in Australia and speaks fluent English and Mandarin and speaks both languages equally at home. She lives with

4CasestudiesusedwiththepermissionofDDAlliance(www.ddalliance.org.au)



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Case study4 her mum who came to Australia as an adult and speaks little English. Her father passed away a couple of years ago.

Diana made contact with a rehabilitation service to get some help with employment and specialist equipment. The first meeting with the case manager occurred at Diana’s home. The case manager spent some time gathering background information about Diana’s circumstances. Then she advised Diana about the need to be more independent and that she should start to plan towards moving out of home. Throughout the conversation the case manager kept referring to Diana’s mum as ‘your carer’ and suggested that she would appreciate ‘having her own space’.

A couple of days later she called the case manager and told her that she no longer required any service.

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2.4 Want to become more empathic? Wealreadysaidthatwhilesomeofusmightbenaturallymoreempathic,wecanalllearnandpracticetobemoreempathic.RomanKrznaric,whomwementionedearlier,identifiedthefollowing6habitsofempathy:



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The 6 habits of empathy5 and some examples for how to practise

1 Cultivate curiosity about strangers

i.e have one meaningful conversation with a stranger once a week

2 Challenge prejudices & discover commonalities

i.e when you ‘know’ something for sure, ask yourself, how do I know this? Where does my knowledge come from?

3 Try another person’s life

i.e check out the ‘A mile in my shoes’ exhibition on www.empathymuseeum.com

4 Listen hard—and open up

i.e listen by being very present and then share something that is important to you – empathy is a two way street

5 Inspire mass action and social change

See 2.6 below

6 Develop an ambitious imagination

See 2.6 below

Thefirst4habitsprobablyseemfamiliartoyouandtheyarequitesimilartothefourskillsidentifiedearlier.Butwhatabouthabits5and6,whataretheyabout?Butbeforeendingthisworkbookwithhabits5and6,letsgobacktooneoftheearlierquestions.

2.5 Are we biased in our empathy? DavidEaglemanisaneuroscientistwhohaswrittenacoupleofbooks(mostlyonneuroscience,butalsoonefiction)andhasalsomadeafewTVshows.

Podcast

Ifyouareinterestedinlisteningtothewholeinterview(about30minuteslong):

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2016/01/aim_20160131.mp3

5http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1



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Thepartweareespeciallyinterestedinforthepurposeoflearningmoreaboutempathyisat18:44minsforabout4minutes.(Attachedatendthetranscriptofthissection.)

ThekeypointsEaglemanismakingare:

´ Ifyouareseeingsomeoneelsegettinghurt,thesameneuralnetworksinyourbrainarelightingupasifyouweregettinghurtyourself–youareliterallyfeelingsomeoneelse’spain

´ Themoreyoucareaboutapersonthestrongeryourempathicresponse

´ Werespondmoreempathicallytopeoplethataresimilartous(orasEnglemansaystothoseinour‘in-group’).

Sotheanswerisyes,our‘automatic’empathyresponseisbiased,butthegreatnewsisbecausewecanstrengthenourhabitsandbecomemoreempathicwithpractice,wecanconsciouslypracticeempathyasatoolthatunitesratherthandividesus.

Specificallyaddressingthisissue,Englemansays:

“Thisisareallyimportantsortofthingbecausemyhopeisthatthenextgenerationwillcometorecognisethingslikepropagandaandwhatmakescertainpeopleinyourout-group…becauseassoonasyou'retoldbyyourgovernmentoryourparentsorwhateverthatsomeoneisinyourout-group,youjustcareaboutthemless.Andsothehopeisthatthenextgenerationwillcometorecognisethesepatternsofdehumanisation,literallydehumanisationbecausethenetworksinyourbrainthatcareaboutsomeoneasanotherhumangetdialleddown,andthatthenextgenerationwillbecomemoreimmunetothis”.6

Empathyisagreatpracticetousecrossculturally,becausewhenyouarebeingempathicyouareconnectingyourownfeelingswithsimilarfeelingsofanotherhumanbeing.Empathyallowsustoconsciouslyconnectashumanbeings,ignoringlessimportantor‘madeup’differencesthatdivideus.

2.6 Empathy for social change and to develop an ambitious imagination? Toconcludelet’sgobacktothelasttwohabitsidentifiedabove.

Habits5and6areallabouthowempathycanbebiggerthantheoneononeinteraction,[email protected],ifallofusgetbetteratbeingempathic.Wecanchangetheworldthroughusconnectingwitheachother.

6http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-story-of-your-brain/7108384#transcript



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HereisanotherquotefromRomanKrznaric

“Ifweaspireforempathytofulfillitsrevolutionarypotentialasaforceforsocialchange,wemustgenerateadeepculturalshiftsothatlookingattheworldthroughotherpeople’seyesbecomesascommonaslookingbothwayswhenwecrosstheroad.”7

Video

Andfinallyifyouinterestedinhowwecouldchangetheworldtobecomeamoreempathiccivilisation,getyourselfadrinkandsitdownfor10minutesofananimatedpresentationbyJeremyRifkintobringoutourempathicsociabilityandpreparethegroundworkforanempathiccivilisation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g

7RomanKrznaric(2014):Empathy



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3. Conclusion

Thisworkbookisthefirstinaseriesfocusingon“IndividualPractices–workingwithpeoplefromCALDbackgroundswithdisability”exploringempathyasapracticetoconnectwithothers,acrossculturesand,maybe,tocreatesocialchangeby‘lookingattheworldthroughotherpeople’seyes’.

Reflections

Whataresomeofthetakeawaymessagesfromthisworkbook?Aretherethingsyoudisagreewith?Wastheresomethingthatsurprisedyou?

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4. Attachment 1

TranscriptofpartoftheinterviewwithDavidEagleman:

“Soneuroscientistshavestudiedempathyforthelast15yearsorso,andwhatitturnsouttobeiswhenyouseesomebodyelsegettinghurt,thesamenetworksthatareinyourbrain,thatcareaboutyougettinghurt,lightup.Thosebecomeactive.Andthat'swhatempathyis.Youareliterallyfeelingsomebodyelse'spain.Youdon'thavethesensoryexperienceof,let'ssay,gettingstabbedinthehand,youdon'thavethatsensoryexperiencebutyoufeelallthisotherstuffaroundthat.Anditturnsoutthatthemoreyoucareaboutthatperson,thestrongerthatempathicresponseis,andyouarerunningthesimulationofwhatitwouldbelikeifthatwereyou.

Oneoftheexperimentswe'vebeendoinginmylab,we'rejustabouttopublishthisnow,isthisissueofwhathappenswithin-groupsandout-groups?Becauseitturnsoutthatout-groupsareveryeasytomake,todefine.Andsowe'vebeenrunninganexperimentinmylabwherewedothefollowing,weshowsixhandsonthescreen,andthenoneofthosehandsgetspickedbythecomputerandyouseethehandgetstabbedbyasyringeneedle.It'sreallyawful-looking,andyouhaveanempathicresponsetothat.Thenetworksinyourbrainthatcareaboutyoubeinginpainlightup.

Nowwhatwedoiswelabelthosesixhandswithdifferentreligiouslabels,soChristian,Jewish,Muslim,Hindu,Scientologistoratheist.Andnowthecomputerpicksahandandstabsit,andwearemeasuringwhathappensinyourbrain,anditturnsoutthatifyouhappentobelongtothatin-groupyoureallycareaboutit,youhaveastrongerempathicresponsethanifthehandislabelledasamemberofyourout-group,ofoneofyourout-groups,inthiscasetherearefiveofthem.Andsointhatcaseyouhaveasmallerempathicresponse,justbasedonaone-wordlabel.

Thisisareallyimportantsortofthingbecausemyhopeisthatthenextgenerationwillcometorecognisethingslikepropagandaandwhatmakescertainpeopleinyourout-group…becauseassoonasyou'retoldbyyourgovernmentoryourparentsorwhateverthatsomeoneisinyourout-group,youjustcareaboutthemless.Andsothehopeisthatthenextgenerationwillcometorecognisethesepatternsofdehumanisation,literallydehumanisationbecausethenetworksinyourbrainthatcareaboutsomeoneasanotherhumangetdialleddown,andthatthenextgenerationwillbecomemoreimmunetothis”.8

8http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/the-story-of-your-brain/7108384#transcript

Documents

Workbook 1.1 Person Centred Practice Across Cultures Empathy